The 1987 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable releases from the brand. Produced at the height of the boom period in the 1980s, this 792 card series featured numerous star players and rookie cards that hold significant nostalgia and monetary worth today. Let’s take a closer look at what makes the ’87 Topps set so desirable over 35 years later.
One of the biggest draws of the ’87 cards is the Hall of Fame talent that is featured. Players like Wade Boggs, Ozzie Smith, Tony Gwynn, and George Brett were in the prime of their careers and considered among the best in baseball. Their base rookie cards can be found for under $10 but graded gems in Mint or Near Mint condition often sell for hundreds due to their proven pedigree. Rookie cards of stars like Mark McGwire, Griffey Jr., and Benito Santiago also fetch high prices when in pristine shape given what they went on to accomplish.
1987 also saw the debut of other future Cooperstown inductees. The rookie cards of Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, and John Smoltz are quite valuable as they formed one of the most dominant rotations in baseball history with the Atlanta Braves. A PSA 10 Glavine rookie fetched over $2,000 in a recent auction. The Andre Dawson, Cal Ripken Jr., and Barry Larkin rookies also hold value since they are recognized as some of the finest players of the late 80s and 90s eras.
Beyond the stars and future Hall of Famers, there are also inserts and parallel sets that make ’87 Topps a must-have for collectors. The most coveted is the Photo Shop variation, where heads are swapped between players. These scarcer cards command huge dollars. The Glossy All-Star and Record Breakers subsets also have cult followings. Perhaps the rarest parallel is the 1/1 Wax Box Champions card featuring Rick Reuschel – it has never traded publicly before. Even tough-to-grade oddball inserts involving umpires and mascots can easily run $100+.
Mint condition 1987 Topps complete sets have cracked the five-figure threshold at auction. Acquiring all 792 unique cards in top-ratedgem quality would cost a small fortune due to the handfull of six and seven-figure cardboard in the set. Alex Rodriguez’s rookie PSA 10 just sold for over $350,000. Even the base cards of McGwire, Griffey Jr., Ripken Jr., and Larkin have realized peak prices north of $1,000 in pristine preservation status.
For those interested in affordable vintage cardboard, there are still deals to be found among the commons from the ’87 release. Workhorse pitchers and journeyman hitters can often be had raw for mere dollars. Even some stars are affordable – mint condition Wade Boggs and Ozzie Smith rookies can be secured for under $50. But be forewarned – hidden in those lowly commons could be a spectacular 1/1 parallel print that could shatter auction estimates. Such is the allure and mystery that makes ’87 Topps a rewarding chase over 35 years running.
The 1987 Topps baseball card set holds tremendous significance as one of the cornerstone releases during the hobby’s boom period of the 1980s. Loaded with key rookie cards, iconic veterans, and scarce parallel variations, it attracts dedicated collectors to this day. Examples found in pristine condition can represent historic dollar figures for the all-time greats and rookie cards of future Hall of Famers within. But with patience and a modest budget, there are still ways to acquire affordable pieces from this iconic set at reasonable prices. The 1987 Topps cards will surely remain a favorite of collectors and a staple in the hobby for generations.
